On Wednesday morning, it was unclear whether the Big 8 Boys Golf Championships would even take place at Occoneechee Golf Club.
Over five inches of rain had fallen in Hillsborough since Sunday night. The coaches of the five participating schools weren’t even sure if the event would go on until Orange’s Pat Moser received confirmation from Occnoeechee Course Director Scott Ray.
Cedar Ridge, under head coach Chris Casey, finished third overall for the season. Matthew Durham and Devin Kehoe qualified for Sunday’s 3A Mideast Regionals. Durham finished 4th, shooting a 77. Kehoe carded an 84.
Northwood finished conference champion. The Chargers’ Ben Ramos captured the individual championship after shooting a 72, one stroke ahead of Cooper Patterson. Ramos also earned Big 8 Player of the Year honors.
Orange’s Toby Ivey shot 89 for the Panthers, also qualifying for Sunday’s regionals.
Durham, Kehoe, Ramos and Patterson made the all-conference team. Joining them were J.F. Webb’s Noah Williams, Scott Loftis and Caleb Marin, Chapel Hill’s Ryan Rosamond (who finished 3rd on Wednesday) and Jackson Paul; and Northwood’s Gordon Braun and Alex Snively.
Very quietly, Wednesday marked the final event in the career of Orange Golf Coach Pat Moser, who will retire next month. Moser coached Orange to its first undefeated season in football last fall, winning the Big 8 Conference Championship outright for the 2nd straight year.